Releasing Rhythm

by WEST, T. J.

  The first time I had sex I was fifteen. She was a senior in my high school, looking for someone like me to get laid. It was a one time fling and after that, my dick didn’t know how to call it quits. Having sex was like being on drugs. It gave me a high like no other. It was the one thing, other than music, that made me forget about the shit in my life. I felt free and was horny as fuck.

  Having so many women in my day, I experienced a lot of different ways of giving and receiving pleasure; as you know, I love fucking in the ass, yet I also love other ways to get me off. Not ever caring about anyone in particular, I cared more about myself than the woman. Tying up someone, spanking their ass raw has always been a huge turn on. What I wouldn’t give to see my fireball princess tied up in red ribbon, from her ankles up to her wrists.

  Walking up to her door, my heart starts pounding like a huge drum. Not sure I can do this. What the fuck was I thinking of asking her out? Seriously, what do I have to offer her, other than fucking her to oblivion? Gotta get sex outta my head. Peta is classy, and deserves a night without thinking that’s all I want. But how will I show her she’s one in a million?

  “Here goes nothin’,” I mutter to myself. Knocking on her door, I take a deep breath. However, the moment she opens it, the breath I just took has now easily been sucked outta me once again. I’ve never seen anyone so fucking gorgeous. Her hair is in this updo style, like a bun on the side…have no idea what this is called, but it’s hot. The dress she has on is not what I was expecting: a charcoal, one shoulder mini dress. I’m talkin’ tight, short and unbelievably sexy. How am I gonna get through this night without trying to crawl my fingers up that little number? Gotta stay cool. At the end of those knock-outs she calls legs, she’s wearing the brightest red strappy heels. Fuck me. Red is definitely her color. Along with her dress, around her neck dangles a few silver chains and some chunky bracelets on her wrists. Her eyes stand out from the smoky eye makeup, and heavy red lips to follow. She’s good enough to eat; I’d rather skip taking her out and take her to bed instead. But I made a promise and I’m sticking to it.

  “Fireball, you look…fucking beautiful.” My voice comes out hoarse.

  “Thank you.” She smiles shyly. “I wasn’t sure whether to wear something formal, casual…sexy.”

  “Got my attention, baby.” I can’t stop looking her up and down and what she’s doing to my cock. It’s gonna be a long night.

  “Good.” She drapes her silver purse strap around her shoulder. “So where are you taking me?”

  I grab her hand, but the second we start heading down the stairs to my truck, a flash of light hits my eyes. “Shit,” I grunt out. “Paparazzi. Hurry up, I don’t want them gettin’ close to ya.” As we speed walk to my truck, I tighten my grasp around her hand. The sound of her heels echo around the parking lot.

  “It’s okay, Jason, I’ve been caught up in the whole paparazzi thing before.”

  Quickly, I unlock the doors so we can get the hell outta here. Letting go of her hand, Peta goes on her side and I on mine. Once situated, I start the truck up. “It’s not okay with me,” I irritably tell her. “First time this has happened.”

  “Are you serious? I’ve seen you in all kinds of stuff before.” She straps on her seat belt. There’s so much more I’d love to strap her in.

  The car idles while we continue to talk. “With the band only. But by myself, outside my job, it’s the first.”

  “That’s odd.”

  “Nope. Got a woman with me; they come crawlin’ outta there graves for this shit.” How’d those motherfuckers know I’d be here? Vultures apparently have celeb radars strapped to their balls. I’m tensed up and can feel it in my chest. Hate how this night is already starting out.

  “Oh. Well, don’t let it ruin the evening.” Looking straight ahead, I keep my fists in a ball, ready to punch someone. “Please, Jason.” Her warm hand turns my face. In an instant, I’m less tense. “Don’t let them ruin our evening,” she softly repeats to me with a weak smile. Peta’s right. A few pictures won’t kill me and if it doesn’t annoy or bother her, then it shouldn’t bother me either. “So, I repeat, where are you taking me?” she asks happily.

  We make it onto the street when I tell her, “The bar under my apartment, called Lucille’s.”

  “Huh?”

  Though I hear some uncertainty in in her voice, I keep my eye on the road. “They make great food.” Lucille’s may not be the most glamorous bar in San Diego, but the food is top notch.

  “A bar? Like with peanuts on the floor or something? And you live above it?”

  Briefly, I turn to see her reaction. She doesn’t look all that thrilled about our destination, but I continue to defend the joint. “No peanuts, and yeah, I live above it.”

  “Oh,” she quietly replies.

  “What?”

  “Nothing…I just thought we’d go somewhere different besides a bar. Like a nice restaurant perhaps.”

  Fuck, I knew I was going about this the wrong way. She’s too classy for me. “I’m sorry, baby, but I’m not very good at this dating shit. Never done it before.” While making the turn onto the freeway, I keep my eye on what’s in front of me. Every so often, I glance in my rearview mirror and see a few cars behind me. Hope the paps aren’t following me.

  “Really, you haven’t? Why?” She sounds surprised. If she only knew why I never took a woman out.

  “Just haven’t.” I reply with a shrug. “There’s a duo playing tonight. They’re good,” I say wanting to change the subject.

  “Okay.” Even though I may detect a smile in her voice, I don’t dare glance at her. If I’m wrong, I really don’t have it in me to see the look of disappointment on her face. Doing the best I can, under the circumstances. Wouldn’t be surprised if after tonight she won’t wanna see me anymore.

  For the rest of the drive, I turn on my iPod to drown out the uncomfortable silence. Never knew it could be this hard to please a woman without getting laid first. Wish I didn’t have to do this, but with Peta it’s a must.

  Pulling into my parking spot out in front of the bar, I notice those weasels with the cameras. Fucking great. “Followed me, those fuckers,” I mumble. Peta doesn’t say a word. Gotta remember she’s not upset over being photographed. Stepping out of my truck, I see Peta hasn’t made a move. Her hands are clasp together and with a look on her face that I can’t figure out. What’s with her? Now that she’s seen the outside of Lucille’s, has she change her mind about comin’ out with me? Leaning myself on the truck door I snap at her. “If you don’t wanna come in, tell me. I’ll just take you home.”

  She gasps, probably from the way I spoke to her. “I’m sorry, I just thought…” She stalls, but then shakes her head. “Never mind.” And hurriedly gets out of the car. She slams the door behind her and briskly walks up to the door of Lucille’s.

  I’ve upset her. My temper got the better of me and I’ve hurt her feelings. “Fireball, wait…” I grab her upper arm. “Tell me what I need to do to make you smile, to make you feel comfortable. If I’m being an ass, forgive me.”

  Smiling, she slowly shakes her head and takes hold of my hand, giving it a squeeze. Her emotions are confusing the hell outta me. “You’re not being an ass, you just need help in the dating department– like opening my side of the door for starters.”

  I close my eyes for half a second. I’m an unbelievable ass. No wonder she looked upset. “Fuck…I should know better. Just nervous, baby.”

  “It’s okay.” For reassurance, she squeezes my hand again.

  Doesn’t make me feel any better though. I have a whole lot of learning to do about dating. “No. You’re a lady, and deserve to be treated as such.”

  Looking down at our conjoined hands, she says, “Thank you, and if it makes you feel any better…I’m nervous too.”

  Lifting her chin up with my finger, I bring my lips down upon hers, sucking them like their candy. Kissing her is like kissing a pink-lemonade Starburst. I could suck and kiss
her all night. Her arms wrap around my middle as my hands slide down to her sweet ass. “You taste fucking good,” I murmur against her lips. Her breath is even sweet, along with her tongue. Moaning deep within my chest, with how good she feels, I forget we have unwanted company. From across the street goes off another flash of light. Immediately, I release Peta’s lips from my own. “Great, now they got us kissing.”

  “Let’s go inside.” She laughs. Never knew anyone who couldn’t care less about being caught up in my band life. Now that I have a woman outside of any groupies, getting photographed by the leaches is inevitable

  Stepping through the door, we don’t go any further than the entrance. Peta looks around, yet her eyes aren’t showin’ me anything. Does she hate it? Lucille’s is a small joint with your typical wooden bar made from an actual redwood tree up in northern California. Backless stools line up along the bar, and with loads of different beer behind it to follow. Ketchup bottles, along with menus, sit in the middle of round tables centered in the room. The kitchen is behind the bar, while the small stage is near an entrance up to my apartment. In the far corner is a dartboard and jukebox with some country music playing. There’s not too many people here at the moment, but when the band starts playing in a little bit, it’ll bring the crowd in. However, the few people– mostly men– that are here their eyes immediately start to look Peta up and down. They’re practically drooling over her. Not often you get a woman lookin’ like her comin’ to a bar like this. Gotta make sure they don’t do anything to her and piss me off.

  After Peta gets her fill of the place, she says, “Oh, it’s not as bad as I thought it would be. It’s quite comfy, actually.” She snuggles up against me, lacing her arm through mine.

  “Did you really think peanuts would be on the floor?”

  She shrugs. “When you mentioned bar, I assumed peanuts shells were scattered.”

  “You work in a bar. No shells there,” I argue.

  “Brewery, mister.” She laughs. “Which also happens to have hard liquor and a restaurant attached.”

  I roll my eyes. “Okay, whatever.” I proceed to lead her further into the bar toward a table up front by the stage. Remembering my manners, I pull out a chair for her.

  She eyes me with a big smile on her face. “Thank you.”

  “Seem surprised,” I say as I sit beside her, snaking an arm around her shoulders.

  “Well, with the car door and all, I just didn’t think you had it in you to pull out my chair for me.”

  As cute as she can be, her sassy attitude needs to quit. “Stop mocking me, Fireball, will ya? I’m tryin’ here.”

  “Aw, I’m sorry. I was only joking.” She kisses me on the cheek.

  “I’m already nervous as it is, so zip it with the jokin’.”

  “Okay okay. No more jokes.”

  I grab a menu. “What sounds good to ya?”

  While deciding on what she wants, I inhale the side of her neck; the sweet smell from her hair and skin is intoxicating. She lightly giggles from my nose tickling her. I could definitely get lost in her scent.

  “I guess a burger and fries will do,” she mentions after my nose leaves her skin.

  Just as I’m about to get up to go order, the duo begins to play. “I’ll go order and grab us some beers.” I pull out from my chair, kissing the side of her head. “Stay put with your sexy ass and listen to the music.”

  I spy Ed, my good friend and owner of Lucille’s. He’s behind the bar pouring a beer for one of his regulars. Ed named this bar after his late wife. They opened it back in the seventies and lived up in the apartment I rent now. Right when I moved in, Lucille had just passed away from cancer. I never had the chance of meeting her, but Ed made me feel like I had with all the stories he used to tell me. In time, I opened up to him and told him things I hadn’t ever mentioned to the band. There are some things I just can’t tell my best friends, but with Ed, he has this way of getting me to say things I never thought I could. He’s been a mentor and one of my greatest friends. Ed’s an old guy now; Santa Claus belly, long white beard and bald as an eagles head. He wears flannel shirts all the time, you’d think it was thirty degrees outside and he was going to chop down some trees, like a lumberjack. I’ve never seen him wear anything else. Gotta love the fucker.

  Knocking my knuckles on the bar, I call for Ed’s attention. “Ed. Got an order for ya.”

  He comes over to me, wiping his hands with a dishtowel. “Who’s that foxy lady you got there? She’s beautiful.” He flicks his head over at Peta.

  The old man thinks he’s a ladies man. Even though the love of his life is gone, he still flirts like he’s twenty. “Eyes off, you got me?” My lips twitch with wanting to smile.

  Ed loves to get a rise outta me and continues teasing me. “Jason Chamber…bringing a woman home for the first time. You’ve got outstanding taste.”

  “Ready to order, Ed,” I say in an annoyed tone, ignoring his banter.

  Knowing I won’t bow down and mention the goods, he laughs. “Sure. What’ll it be?”

  “Two burgers, fries and two beers.”

  He claps his hands. “Comin’ right up.”

  AFTER RECEIVING THE FOOD AND drinking beer, Peta and I watched the two guys singing. Their sound has folk and a little soft rock combined. They’re pretty good and I think Peta likes them too. She’s taking it all in as she eats her fries. The calm and serene look on her face helps me relax. I was so nervous about bringing her here, but the way she’s enjoying the atmosphere and music, I’m glad I did.

  Once the duo has finished and the jukebox is up and running with eighties rock playing in the background, I ask, “Whad’ya think?”

  Her hand rests on my thigh so I begin rubbing the outer part of her thumb. She’s so soft. “They were good. I really liked them,” she says as she continues stuffing fries into her mouth. This woman can eat. We go back to being quiet for a of couple minutes before she asks me, “So…how long have you lived above this place?” She wipes her mouth with a napkin then takes a drink of beer.

  Not sure I wanna get into detail about my residency, but this is a date. Dates consist of getting to know one another, right? “‘Bout twelve years.” I shrug.

  “Oh, that’s a long time.” She goes back to dipping her fries in ketchup and proceeds to eat.

  Sitting here, watching her eat, I wait for her to ask me the one question all my buddies have asked, but she never does. “Not gonna ask when I’ll move?”

  She shakes her head. “No. That’s not my place to ask, Jason, why?”

  In a circular motion, my hand caresses the lower part of her back. “The guys…you know. We have money and all now…but I’m happy here,” I try to explain.

  “Then stay.” She shrugs, like it’s no big deal.

  However, the moment she sees the inside, it will become a big deal. “Once you see my place, you’ll probably think otherwise.”

  “Oh…you’re going to take me upstairs, huh? Now I’m intrigued,” she replies in a teasing tone.

  She’s being sassy and cute again. They both turn me on. “How’s the beer and food, you like it? I know it’s not Reds or anything…”

  Peta smacks my shoulder. “Shut up, Poker Face. It’s actually quite amazing. I’m impressed.” She takes a gulp of her beer.

  Poker Face? “Where’d that come from?”

  “Where’d what did?”

  “Poker face.”

  “Oh, that.” She laughs, then starts talking with her hands. She’s very animated and again…cute. “Well…you seem to have this thing where you don’t show any facial expressions, like when someone is good at hiding their feelings or reactions. So…yeah, poker face.” Her smile and how her eyes shine from her happiness makes me want to break out in a huge smile myself. But Peta’s right, poker face suits me; I tend to not show a lot of emotion because…maybe it’s how I grew up, or something. Wish I knew what my deal was. Peta seems to see the blank look on my face. Her brows crease together as if s
he’s searching for answers in my eyes.. “You’re not upset about it are you? I mean, you call me fireball, right, so I had to find some kind of nickname for you in return.”

  Shaking my head, my eyes make their way down to her stunning nude, crossed legs. “Not upset, baby. Never been one to show too much, ya know?” I shrug. “Not sure why.”

  Peta cups the side of my face with her hand, immediately drawing my eyes back up to hers. “It’s just who you are.” She smiles warmly. “Nothing wrong with that. You’re a little hard to read most of the time, but I’m attracted to the mystery behind those eyes.”

  “Now I’m a mystery.”

  She quickly removes her hand like she just got burnt. “It’s not a bad thing, Jason.”

  “Never said it was.” Grabbing the hand that was on my face, I stroke it. I love touching her skin. “Just surprised you like what you see.”

  “Why wouldn’t I?”

  Again, she seems to be searching for answers I can’t give or explain. I need to stop this before it gets way too deep for my liking. Not ready for it just yet. “This is getting a little too serious for me, Fireball. Wanna another beer?” I push up from my chair.

  “I’m sorry. Did I say something wrong?”

  Bending down, I kiss her on the lips. “No. Be right back.” Walking back over to Ed, I knock on the bar. “‘Nother round, Ed, and maybe some water too.” I lean my arm on the top, facing Peta. She continues to eat her leftover fries and begins scrolling through her phone.

  Ed brings over two more beers and couple of waters. “Saw some paparazzi out front. You’re finally hittin’ big, aren’t ya?”

  “Might have to move if it gets to be too much.”

  “Too bad. I kinda like the place gettin’ the attention.” He chuckles. “Your foxy lady seems to be enjoying herself.”

  “Yeah.” I scan my eyes at her exquisite beauty. What the fuck is she doing with a guy like me anyhow? “Don’t know why though. I suck at this shit. She deserves fine dining and dancing, something I don’t do.” My eyes never leave her, as she remains delving into her phone.